Skills Future at a glance.

Wednesday, 4 March 2015

THE STRAITS TIMES
THE BIG STORY


(1) SkillsFuture initiatives: 'Provide e-courses so mums can study from home' 

Published on Mar 4, 2015 12:36 PM



MPs have called for more to be done for stay-at-home mothers, with suggestions including more e-learning classes so women can learn from home. -- ST PHOTO: DESMOND WEE

By Nur Asyiqin Mohamad Salleh

Singaporeans who do not have employers to set aside funds for their training will not have to dig deep into their pockets to acquire fresh skills, thanks to the new SkillsFuture Credit account.

This account, which will see the Government giving each Singaporean aged 25 and older an initial sum of $500, can be used to pay for training courses and will help even long-neglected groups such as freelancers and the self-employed to improve their skills.

But MPs have called for more to be done for stay-at-home mothers and cabbies, particularly in lifting their retirement savings and whittling down long working hours. Ms Jessica Tan (East Coast GRC) was a leading voice in speaking up for homemakers yesterday.

She wants to see measures that will help them keep up with the demands of a changing job market.

Reiterating suggestions made by the Women's Wing of the People's Action Party last week, she said husbands should be allowed to transfer some of the unused money in their SkillsFuture Credit accounts to their wives, and children to their mothers.

Training courses could also offer e-learning classes so women can learn from home. "This will help homemakers have confidence to return to the workforce should they wish to do so in the future," said Ms Tan.

"It may seem trivial to some, but this is a very important point as I've seen many women... (who) can't stay connected and can't keep their skills updated. What happens is they lose the confidence to (return to work)."

Dr Fatimah Lateef (Marine Parade GRC) suggested that the Government look at new ways to help stay-at-home mothers with their Central Provident Fund (CPF) savings.

Meanwhile, Mr Ang Hin Kee (Ang Mo Kio GRC), who is executive adviser to the National Taxi Association, said that while the Budget brought good news to cabbies, in terms of skills upgrading, they still struggle with low CPF savings and long work hours.

A recent local study found that cabbies are plagued by fatigue, he said. These drivers, many of whom have health problems, spend more than 10 hours cooped up in their taxis each day.

One of his suggestions is to explore ways to reach out to new drivers, or tap the inactive pool of people who hold taxi driver licences, to help cabbies split the burden of long shifts.

Of the 28,000 taxis plying Singapore roads, only 66 per cent are shared by a hirer and a relief driver.

"We should find more ways to make our taxis work harder, not the taxi drivers," he said.

asyiqins@sph.com.sg

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Wednesday, 4 March 2015

THE STRAITS TIMES
THE BIG STORY


(2) MPs call for more guidance and flexibility on SkillsFuture 


They also highlight need to ensure quality of courses and trainers

Published on Mar 4, 2015 12:31 PM



Mr Zainal Sapari (Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC), urging the Government to ensure that firms do not short-change low-wage workers


By Charissa Yong

Singaporeans should be given more guidance in choosing what courses to enrol for under the SkillsFuture programme outlined in this year's Budget, MPs told Parliament yesterday.

Under the SkillsFuture drive to help citizens master new areas of expertise and keep Singapore competitive, citizens aged 25 and above will get $500 in SkillsFuture Credit from next year to offset the cost of upgrading themselves.

Suggestions for the scheme, a key feature in this year's Budget, were aplenty on the first day of the Budget debate, with 14 out of the 25 MPs who spoke addressing the new scheme.

Ms Foo Mee Har (West Coast GRC) suggested that Singaporeans could be guided to spend their credits with "a longer-term view of their careers, rather than choose impulsively based on short-term interests".

Nominated MP Rita Soh said that the courses should have flexible schedules so that more workers could attend them.

Ms Tin Pei Ling (Marine Parade GRC) called for the SkillsFuture Credits to cover more courses such as master's programmes at local institutions.

She said: "Why not broaden the selection of courses to let Singaporeans decide for themselves (what to take)?"

But Dr Chia Shi-Lu (Tanjong Pagar GRC) was concerned that doing so might "lead to the mushrooming of different courses of widely varying merit".

If so, workers may not get the training they need, he added.

MPs who spoke said the process of accrediting courses also had to be robust.

Dr Chia, Ms Sylvia Lim (Aljunied GRC) and NMP Chia Yong Yong asked how the Government will ensure the quality of the courses and trainers.

Doing so will ensure that the money pumped into the SkillsFuture programme is put to good use, said Ms Chia, who called for key performance indicators to track and measureits success.

Mr Arthur Fong (West Coast GRC) said that in the long run, "the sum total (of SkillsFuture) must be good for Singapore's workforce".

MPs also said that for the SkillsFuture effort to truly take off, a change in the mindset of both employers and workers is critical.

Ms Jessica Tan (East Coast GRC) said workers need to be motivated and take ownership of their skills upgrading.

"While the Government is providing the catalyst to drive the culture change through SkillsFuture, its success will lie in how individuals, businesses and industry play their part," she said.

Employers should do their part to train their workers, said Mr Gan Thiam Poh (Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC) and Ms Foo, who added that companies should not reduce their training budgets, but should instead step up their in-house training and give study leave to employees attending courses.

Mr Heng Chee How (Whampoa) said older workers should not be left out of this training drive.

He said companies still operate as if workers will retire at 55 or 60, and reason that there is no point investing in the training of older workers.

But Mr Heng, who is Senior Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office and a National Trades Union Congress deputy secretary-general, said such an assumption is flawed as older workers are much less likely to switch to other companies, compared to their younger counterparts.

There is also a need to reach out to low-wage workers to let them know how they can benefit from SkillsFuture, said Mr Zainal Sapari (Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC).

Mr Liang Eng Hwa (Holland-Bukit Timah GRC) reminded the House that rapid technological advancement hollows out middle-skilled jobs.

"There are no other alternatives to meeting this onslaught other than constantly upgrading and sharpening our skills to remain relevant and versatile," he said. "SkillsFuture may well be the secret weapon that we need in the new landscape."

charyong@sph.com.sg

BACKGROUND STORY

" DON'T LET LOW-PAID WORKERS MISS OUT

Unfortunately, many outsourced workers and those in non-unionised companies may not be benefiting from the National Wage Council's quantum recommendations for low-wage workers. The days of moral suasion are over.

I would like to call for the Government to exert greater pressure for companies to adopt the NWC recommendations for low-wage workers by using existing levers relating to grants and foreign workers to ensure compliance.

While companies must do what they can to remain competitive, it should not be at the cost of the livelihood for our Singaporean labour force.

- Mr Zainal Sapari (Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC), urging the Government to ensure that firms do not short-change low-wage workers

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Tuesday, 3 March 2015

THE STRAITS TIMES
SINGAPORE

(3) SkillsFuture to be key topic at Budget debate

Published on Mar 3, 2015 5:47 AM

A key slice of the Budget pie is the SkillsFuture Credit account. Starting next year, more than two million people aged 25 and older will initially receive $500 in the account to spend on courses to develop their work skills. -- PHOTO: ST FILE

By Nur Asyiqin Mohamad Salleh

The debate on the Budget statement starts in Parliament today, and a key topic will be the SkillsFuture programme that helps Singaporeans keep developing skills to advance their careers.

This, in turn, will let Singapore keep its competitive edge.

About 60 MPs are expected to speak in the first three days, and Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam will address their comments and concerns in a wrap-up speech on Thursday.

Parliament will then move on to what is called the Committee of Supply debate, during which MPs scrutinise the spending plans of each of the 15 ministries and the Prime Minister's Office. This debate will take place daily, till Friday next week.

Mr Liang Eng Hwa (Holland-Bukit Timah GRC) is scheduled, as chairman of the Government Parliamentary Committee for Finance as well as Trade and Industry, to get the debate going.

He told The Straits Times yesterday: "SkillsFuture is something many people are excited about, but we have to look at how to make this more meaningful than just people going for courses.

"We have to motivate them as well, let them see how people can continue to upgrade themselves."

This year's Budget offers benefits for middle-income Singaporeans, support for low-income seniors, and incentives to encourage companies to innovate, among other things.

A key slice of the Budget pie is the SkillsFuture Credit account. Starting next year, more than two million people aged 25 and older will initially receive $500 in the account to spend on courses to develop their work skills.

Several MPs, including Ms Denise Phua (Moulmein-Kallang GRC,) say they have concerns about its implementation.

Said Ms Phua: "Deepening skills and learning for life are absolutely essential in an age where knowledge shelf lives are short... But it is a big training investment and runs the risk of low impact if not properly designed and delivered."

Mr Ang Hin Kee (Ang Mo Kio GRC) sees the account benefiting freelancers and the self-employed, who do not have employers to fund their training.

But they still face other obstacles, he said.

Many lack job security and have little Central Provident Fund savings.

"This growing pool of people is sometimes not included in government policies aimed at workers.

 We can't forget about them," he said.

asyiqins@sph.com.sg


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28 Feb, 2015

THE STRAITS TIMES

TOP OF THE NEWS

SkillsFuture initiatives to help Singaporeans gain both hard and soft skills: Lim Swee Say

Published on Feb 28, 2015 7:17 PM


Guest of honour Lim Swee Say attends Hokkien Huay Kuan's first CNY get-together at their new premise in Sennett Road. -- PHOTO: ZAOBAO 


By Pearl Lee

SINGAPORE - Singapore's future workers will need hard, technical skills to get jobs and remain employable.

But they will also need softer, social skills to stay happy and engaged in their jobs, said labour chief Lim Swee Say on Saturday, on the sidelines of a community event held at the Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan.

And under the new SkillsFuture initiative, announced by Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam in his Budget speech earlier this week, workers will get a firm helping hand to attain both, said Mr Lim, the secretary-general of the National Trade Union Congress (NTUC).

"We are going to work very closely with our tripartite partners to mobilise the workers because we want as many workers as possible to benefit from this programme," said Mr Lim.

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27 Feb, 2015

THE STRAITS TIMES

TOP OF THE NEWS


SkillsFuture scheme: Offset on costs will let him take up more courses 


Published on Feb 27, 2015 8:29 AM



Mr Salleh Ismail, a trainer with SMRT, hopes the SkillsFuture programme means he will pay less for his part-time degree so he can save up "to take even more courses". -- ST PHOTO: CHEW SENG KIM

Mr Salleh Ismail hopes a new programme to promote lifelong learning means he will pay less for his part-time degree at National University of Singapore come August.

"It will really help a lot as I want to save money to take up even more courses," said the 51-year-old trainer.

Under the new initiative, all Singaporeans aged 25 and above will receive $500 in SkillsFuture Credit from next year, with more top-ups to come, to offset the cost of upgrading.

Education and training subsidies for Singaporeans aged 40 and above will also be raised, in incentives announced by Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam on Monday.

Mr Salleh was spurred to upgrade his skills when he was retrenched in early 2010 from his job as a principal engineer in a manufacturing firm after 19 years.

"The job market was gloomy and I had difficulties finding a job because I had a very specific skillset," said Mr Salleh, who had a technical certificate at the time.

So, when he landed a job as a station manager at transport company SMRT in April that year, he jumped at every chance to learn new skills. He requested a job transfer to become a trainer.

Last year, he completed a diploma in engineering at Singapore Polytechnic, graduating with an almost perfect grade point average.

Currently, Mr Salleh, who earns between $4,000 and $4,500, is heading a new division at SMRT to promote e-learning in the company's training curriculum.

Mr Gerard Koh, vice-president of human resources at SMRT, said the new $500 grant could enable staff to attend courses that could boost their careers.

"With SkillsFuture Credit, our staff will be further encouraged to take ownership of their skills development," he said.

AW CHENG WEI & JOANNA SEOW